Bhubaneswar, Mar 7: A total of 26 SC and ST students have died in Odisha government-run hostels since July 1, 2024, with six of them taking their own lives, the Assembly was informed on Friday.
In response to a query from senior BJD member Ranendra Pratap Swain, Nityananda Gond, Minister for ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, revealed that these deaths occurred over the past eight months across various hostels. Six of the deaths were suicides, while the remaining 20 students died during treatment at different hospitals.
According to the minister, the fatalities occurred in 14 districts across the state. Rayagada district recorded the highest number, with seven deaths, while Koraput and Malkangiri each reported three deaths. Sundargarh and Bargarh saw two deaths each during the period. Additionally, one death was reported in each of the following districts: Bolangir, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Nuapada, and Subarnapur.
In another written statement to the Assembly, Gond provided details about the education system under the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department.
He stated that 1,762 schools are operational, with approximately 90% of the students being from Scheduled Tribes (ST). Additionally, 5,841 hostels provide residential education to ST students, housing more than 5 lakh children. Of these, 90% are ST students, while 10% are from Scheduled Castes (SC).
